Part 8
It was the moment of truth! I received my very own copy of the newspaper and started searching under the letter 'L', but to my great astonishment, there was no 'Lachini' surname in there! I searched several times and even under some other letters of the alphabet to no avail! I couldn't believe my eyes. I looked for Ali's name next and found his name for what we had planned together. He was admitted to Medicine at the University of Tehran as planned. But, I had totally failed the examination, not even nursing or even paramedicine for a BS or even an AD! I was devastated! How could I justify the situation? The first rank student at school and the tenth rank student in the entire Tehran province in 1982 and the champion of students' chess competition nationwide failed this examination. I was about to pass out but pulled myself together and walked to the bus station. When I reached home, everybody was sad and disappointed. My parents had already checked their own newspapers. They didn't speak to me. They did not even try to pacify me! I had missed my first and last chance! They couldn't calm me down by saying "no big deal, son! You can try again next year!" There was no examination next year according to Cultural Revolution Committee Announcement as they had admitted enough for a couple of years. Therefore, I had to go to the compulsory military service and right to the battlefronts as a zero ranked soldier! This could not be postponed as military police were patrolling around the town and capturing young people who looked like those who had not registered for their military service. They even stopped public transportation busses to look for them. If they were captured, their service would be extended for more six months or a full year on top of 2 years and their service locations would be the very front-lines where they had to walk over the minefields to clear them! There were no minefield clearing devices at that time and even if they existed, they would not be sold to a country under all sorts of sanctions. The world was with Iraq both logistically and financially. Minefields were cleared only manually when there was time but when reconnaissance was not accurate and there was a surprise attack, especially at nights, there had to be some foot soldiers called the line-breakers to walk over the minefields to clear them; donkeys were also used sometimes if they had access to them or if there was a plan at all. With all the above said, there was still light at the end of the tunnel! I could officially write a letter of complaint to the Ministry of Higher Education within a weak after the announcement of the results. I did so and waited for the response. After a few days, the Ministry of Education announced TTC results. That was another last chance not to go the military service. I was admitted to study towards my AD (a two-year program) in English major in the southern-most city of Tehran province called Shahr-e-Ray. It was a historical and religious city with the shrine of one of the Shia's Muslims' Imam's sons! The city was also popular for its many restaurants specialized in offering barbecued lamb minced kebabs with fresh bread, onion, and basil locally grown. I was finally admitted somewhere! I looked for Ali's name but couldn't find his! Later, I called him and he told me that he had failed the test! It was absolutely incredible!!! How on earth was it possible? His English was much much better than me and his background check was clear! I was more confident now but was still mournful for missing Medicine! I had no choice but to wait for my complaint's response.
It was the moment of truth! I received my very own copy of the newspaper and started searching under the letter 'L', but to my great astonishment, there was no 'Lachini' surname in there! I searched several times and even under some other letters of the alphabet to no avail! I couldn't believe my eyes. I looked for Ali's name next and found his name for what we had planned together. He was admitted to Medicine at the University of Tehran as planned. But, I had totally failed the examination, not even nursing or even paramedicine for a BS or even an AD! I was devastated! How could I justify the situation? The first rank student at school and the tenth rank student in the entire Tehran province in 1982 and the champion of students' chess competition nationwide failed this examination. I was about to pass out but pulled myself together and walked to the bus station. When I reached home, everybody was sad and disappointed. My parents had already checked their own newspapers. They didn't speak to me. They did not even try to pacify me! I had missed my first and last chance! They couldn't calm me down by saying "no big deal, son! You can try again next year!" There was no examination next year according to Cultural Revolution Committee Announcement as they had admitted enough for a couple of years. Therefore, I had to go to the compulsory military service and right to the battlefronts as a zero ranked soldier! This could not be postponed as military police were patrolling around the town and capturing young people who looked like those who had not registered for their military service. They even stopped public transportation busses to look for them. If they were captured, their service would be extended for more six months or a full year on top of 2 years and their service locations would be the very front-lines where they had to walk over the minefields to clear them! There were no minefield clearing devices at that time and even if they existed, they would not be sold to a country under all sorts of sanctions. The world was with Iraq both logistically and financially. Minefields were cleared only manually when there was time but when reconnaissance was not accurate and there was a surprise attack, especially at nights, there had to be some foot soldiers called the line-breakers to walk over the minefields to clear them; donkeys were also used sometimes if they had access to them or if there was a plan at all. With all the above said, there was still light at the end of the tunnel! I could officially write a letter of complaint to the Ministry of Higher Education within a weak after the announcement of the results. I did so and waited for the response. After a few days, the Ministry of Education announced TTC results. That was another last chance not to go the military service. I was admitted to study towards my AD (a two-year program) in English major in the southern-most city of Tehran province called Shahr-e-Ray. It was a historical and religious city with the shrine of one of the Shia's Muslims' Imam's sons! The city was also popular for its many restaurants specialized in offering barbecued lamb minced kebabs with fresh bread, onion, and basil locally grown. I was finally admitted somewhere! I looked for Ali's name but couldn't find his! Later, I called him and he told me that he had failed the test! It was absolutely incredible!!! How on earth was it possible? His English was much much better than me and his background check was clear! I was more confident now but was still mournful for missing Medicine! I had no choice but to wait for my complaint's response.
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